In 1954 he attended Levent İlkokulu, Istanbul (primary school). In 1961 he attended Redondo Union High School, Redondo Beach California, United States of America. In 1962 he attended Galatasaray Lisesi, Istanbul (high school). He was educated at Istanbul University (Bachelor of Science
Doctor of Philosophy) and the University of East Anglia (Master of Arts, Economics, 1968).
He served as Rector of Istanbul Bilgi University from 1996 to 1998, where he remains a Professor. He also spent time as a research student at the London School of Economics. He began his academic career in 1966 at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Economics, where he became a professor in 1980.
In 1973 he became Associate Professor of Economics at the same institution.
In 1980 he became Professor of Economics at Istanbul University. In 1982 he resigned from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Istanbul.
In 1989 he was Lecturer in Economics at the Marmara University, Istanbul. In 1993 he was Professor of Economics at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Istanbul.
In 1994 he Founded Academic Board, Istanbul School of International Studies.
In 1996 he was Rector of Istanbul Bilgi University. In 1998 he became Professor of Economics, Istanbul Bilgi University. Akat believes that the global crisis has changed this radically.
Developing countries such as Turkey have begun to seize the initiative.
“The fatwa of one global financial centre no longer applies,” he wrote.
In one of his November 2011 columns in Vatan, Monetary politics and financial stability (in Turkish), Akat argued that developed countries led by the United States used to have a monopoly on economic theories and practises. In his interview with ESI, Akat recalls the 1980s and 1990s when Turkey and its economy were not “on anyone’s map.” He talks about the Turkish economy’s “miraculous transformation” in the last decade, about the pro-business and fiscally conservative AKP government, and the sustainability of the country’s economic growth.
Quotations: “The fatwa of one global financial centre no longer applies,”.
During 1974-1975 he was at National Security Academy, Istanbul Turkey,as a member of teaching staff during Military Service.
